A Silver Airways aircraft at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM
A complaint filed earlier this month in the V.I. District Court accuses a Silver Airways employee of battery and the intentional infliction of emotional distress over an alleged altercation that occurred at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January.
John Roebuck, a disabled veteran of the United States Army who says he mainly uses his wheelchair for mobility, had traveled to San Juan on January 5 for medical treatment.
Following his appointment, Mr. Roebuck checked in for his return flight and was at the departure gate when he realized that his seat assignment had been changed, with the new seat not able to accommodate him and his wheelchair.
He says that he approached a female Silver Airways to inquire why the airline had changed his seat assignment, and when she did not respond to his query, he began recording.
Mr. Roebuck alleges that a male Silver Airways employee immediately approached him and slapped the phone away, with the force of the impact sending the device into Mr. Roebuck's forehead, above his right eye. He alleges that at least one fellow passenger headed back to St. Croix witnessed the incident.
Mr. Roebuck claims that he has suffered physical and emotional pain and suffering as a result of the employee's alleged acts, and is asking the court for damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
Silver Airways had not responded to a request for comment at time of publication.
